At every turn, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the top games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous reviews that praised the delightful software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, particularly in a year featuring high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating colon usage is a minor annoyance. This anthology of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well originally and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a curious contrast to the Metascore.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game encountered significant backlash from both professionals and players. Issues included a thin roster of characters and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some voicing a wish that the title's failure would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its attempt to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, finally released after a very long time in production delays. The publishers consciously chose to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its journey was far richer than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging surgery games of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid collection of basic activities that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major GTA-style title from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a distinct vote of confidence.
